AKC Breed Standard

What is a Standard?

All dogs recognized by the American Kennel Club are given a breed standard. This serves to separate and identify each breed. This written record is a guide to breeders to keep a Maltese looking like a Maltese and say a Boxer looking like a Boxer etc. The American Maltese Association, the Maltese parent club, made up of Maltese breeders in November 1965 arrived at an outline of what the perfect Maltese should look like and it’s temperment. The AKC adopts the standard from the parent club and all responsible breeders breed to this standard. Remember the standard describes the perfect Maltese specimen and there are no perfect Maltese or any other breed. Our responsibility as Show breeders is to come as close to this standard as we can. From the American Kennel Club Maltese Breed Standard

General Appearance
The Maltese is a toy dog covered from head to foot with a mantle of long, silky, white hair. He is gentle-mannered and affectionate, eager and sprightly in action.

Head- The skull is slightly rounded on top, the stop moderate. The drop ears are rather lowset and feathered with long hair. Eyes are set not too far apart; dark and round, their black rims enhancing the gentle yet alert expression. The muzzle is of medium length, not snipy.The nose is black. The teeth meet in an even, edge-to-edge bite, or in a scissors bite.

Neck- Sufficient length of neck is desirable as promoting a high carriage of the head.

Body- Compact, the height from the withers to the ground equaling the length from the withers to the root of the tail.

Tail- A long-haired plume carried gracefully over the back, its tip lying to the side over the quarter.

Legs and Feet- Legs are fine-boned and nicely feathered. Forelegs are straight. The feet are small and round, with toe pads black.

Coat and Color- The coat is single. It hangs long, flat, and silky over the sides of the body almost to the ground. The long head-hair may be tied up in a topknot or it may be left hanging. Color, pure white. Light tan or lemon on the ears is permissible.

Size- Weight under 7 pounds, with from 4 to 6 pounds preferred.

Gait- The Maltese moves with a jaunty, smooth, flowing gait.

Temperament- For all his diminutive size, the Maltese seems to be without fear. His trust and affectionate responsiveness are very appealing. He is among the gentlest mannered of all little dogs, yet he is lively and playful as well as vigorous.